Music, art and the riverfront

Thursday

Jun 3, 2010 at 12:01 AMJun 3, 2010 at 2:06 AM

Musicians will share the spotlight with local artists at CEFCU Center Stage at the Landing's summer concert series.

The Friday and Saturday concerts on the Peoria riverfront will include a "live art" feature, where three local artists collaborate on a large piece of art during each concert. Artists will have the length of the concert - about three hours - to finish. They'll sell raffle tickets for $4 each, and at the end of the show one winner will go home with the creation.

Danielle Hatch

Musicians will share the spotlight with local artists at CEFCU Center Stage at the Landing's summer concert series.

The Friday and Saturday concerts on the Peoria riverfront will include a "live art" feature, where three local artists collaborate on a large piece of art during each concert. Artists will have the length of the concert - about three hours - to finish. They'll sell raffle tickets for $4 each, and at the end of the show one winner will go home with the creation.

Local artists Phoebe Johnson, James Flanigan and Brad Motteler will be on hand to create a work of art starting at Friday's Sixteen Candles concert at CEFCU Center Stage at the Landing.

Johnson said the painting will be 4 feet by 6 feet and will have three-dimensional pieces.

"It's going to be pretty complex, and the actual painting would cost like $2,000 for the amount of time we're putting into it," she said. "Whoever wins that piece, I'm going to be jealous."

Johnson said it's a challenge for artists of different mediums (Johnson and Motteler are painters/muralists, while Flanigan's forte is sculpture) to create a work of art in front of an audience. They prepare in advance by mapping out the painting and getting three-dimensional pieces ready to go, but for most part the artwork will come together as the concert takes place.

"It's challenging to have all these different artists working together and learning from each other, and also be in front of a bunch of people and have that energy going on," said Johnson, who hopes the live art events will pique the interest of central Illinoisans who aren't necessarily seeking out the local arts community. "A lot of people don't know there's art going on in Peoria, and this is a chance for people to see artists, to watch an artist paint and finish a canvas and to ask questions. The whole idea is to reach out to people."

The Park District's concert schedule will also give local musicians a chance to shine this year by adding an opening act to most shows. Opening acts will run from 8 to 8:45 p.m., then the main acts will take the stage at 9 p.m.